Train-recording apparatus.



I. A. PIERCE.

TRAIN RECOBDIHG APPARATUS. urmummlw mum IKE-.26. 1909.

Patented June 20,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

INVENTDR W ATTEiRNEY; y

F. A. PIERGE.

TRAIN REGORDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION 1 1mm M1126, 1909.

995,634. Patented June 20; 1911.

INVENTUR.

F; A. PIERCE TRAIN RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..26, 1909v Patented June 20,1911;

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

INVEN'TDR. /Z l r ATTIJRNLY.

If. A. PIERGE.

TRAIN REGORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1899,

Patented-June 20, 1911.

' 4 sums-sum 4.

INYENTDR' ATTDRNELEK WITNESSES;

sion of a. railway system automatically and UNITED srarigs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN A. PIERCE, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

TRAIN-RECORD ING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J line 20, 1911'.

Application filed March 26, 1909. Serial No. 485,983.

To all whom it may concem: Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. PIERCE,

a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio,

and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lTrain-ltecording Apparatus, of which the following is aspecificat ion.

This invention has relation to a. train registering apparatus, and it has for its primary object to provide a system whereby each train in what is herein termed a diviaccurately records and indicates at a given point, as, for instance, in a train despatchers or operators office the time of its arrival at, and the time of its departure from, stations along said division,- and also, at the same time, indicates and records the direction in .which it is traveling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a recording instrument and electrical connections therefor whereby the train-despatcher or operator will be accuratelyrappriscd' of the time a train passes a givenp'oint on the division.

It is frequently desirable, particularly in the night time, to dispense with the services oftelegraph-operators at small way-stations where their only duties are to report the arrival and departure of trains, and this invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the arrival and departure oftrains at such way-stations will be automatically announced or recorded in the ollices of stations where operators are continuously employed.

, Suppose, for instance, that two stations are equipped. with the instruments compris ing partofthis invention, and'that a number of small stations intervene, the time of the arrivalpat and departure of trains from said intervening stations-will be indicated by the instruments at'the two equipped stations, tl us rendering the employment of operators at'sucll intervening stations unnecessary.

'Otlicr objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter; a

The invention accordingly consists in the fcntures of construction, combinations. of

el nents and arrangement of parts and of w ang' connections which will be excmplified in ahe construct-ion hereinafter set forth, and

the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims. In the drawings-Figure 1 is a diagramm'atic view of the recording instrument, showing its connection with the railway track; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the circuit changer; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; 'Fig. t is a side elevation of one of the perforating devices; Fig. 5 is an end view of the same; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another perforating device; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the tape, the same being'shown in top plan; Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the tapereel, perforating stand and tape-moving mechanism; Fig. 9 is a topplan view of the same; and- Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view, showing the manner of wiring the track.

Hitherto, in order to expeditiously and cautiously control or direct the movement of trains, it has been incumbentupon rail way companies to maintain operators at all stations along the line of rallway during the clay, and at all but a very few small waystations during the night, the chief duties and departure of trains. i

of said operators being to report the arrival I The purpose of the present invention is, 1

as before stated, to provide positive auto-- .matic means whereby the time of the passage of trains by points along the line of railway "will beindicated at other points along the line, thereby IBlldellllg it unnecessary to which instruments will'accuratcly record the passage of trams by the intermediate stations.

Referring particularly to Fig. 10, the nninerals l, 2 and 3 indicate what may be termed line wires, said wires connecting the tWGIQInOtO recordingstations A and it, between which are located a plurality of non-recording stationsC, D, E and F. At

each-pfithe non-,recordin;c stations a. short: length of track, preferably two or three track-rails in length, is insulated from the remainderpf the. track both ends, as

shown at points 4, and leading from wires 1 and 2 to the opposite track-rails a and 7) in said short length'of track are branch wires 1 and 2 Adjacent to said short length of track, and insulated from the remainder of the track at the end thereof remote from said short length, as shown at points 5,. is a second short length of track, preferably but one track-rail.in length, and leading from wire 3 to one of the track-rails d thereof is a branch' Wire 3 while a wire 1 tapped in on branch Wire 1 leads to the opposite rail 0, as shown.

The recording instrument located at each of the recordlng stations A and B coinprlses a tape 6 wound upon an appropriatelymounted reel 7, a chronometer 8 having suitable tape carrying means, as, for instance, a wheel 9 mounted upon the arbor 10 and having a roller 11. cooperating therewith, for unwinding the tape from the reel at a fixed and uniform rate of speed, and electrically operated tape perforating HltCllillllSll'l, said mechanism being adapted to be automatically actuated by the entrance of a train upon one of the short lengths of track at any of the non-recording stations C, D, E and F.

The tape 6 is provided with graduations representing minutes and hours and bears the date and hours of the day printed thereon, and the ClII'OHOIDCiOP iII a given time reels off said tape in the distance represented thereon by such given time.

The tape perforating mechanism comprises a plurality of perforating instrumentslocated adjacent to the path of travel of the tape 6 as it is unwound from the reel, and electrical actuating mechanism for said in-..: struments, which mechanisms will now be described.

Connected to the line wire 3 and leading to a binding post 12 is a wire 13, and a wire 14 leads from said binding post to a pair of magnet coils 15 forming a part of a dcvice 16, similar in construction to an ordinary telegraph sounder, herein termed a circuit changer. A wire .17 leads from the said magnet coils: 15 to a binding post 18 which is connected by wire 19 to a post 20 in said circuit changer. A wire 21 leads from said post 20 to a post 22 forming part of a tape perforator 23. A fixed member 24 carried by said post 22 overlies and is normally in contact with the 'iivotally-mountcd armatlmc 25. of a small magnet-coil 26 which also forms a part of said pcrforator 23. A wire 27 connccted to said armature leads to a battcry 28 which is" connected by awire 29 to the wire 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when a train, in. traveling from right to left along the track, passes upon the rails c and d. an electrical circuit is established through the front axle of engine, said circuit. including the batter-W28, wires 29, 1, 1 and 1",

rail 0, the axle of the engine, rail d, wires 3, 3, 13 and 14, magnet coils 15, wires 17 and 19, contact post 20, wire 21, contact post 22, fixed member 24, armature 25 and wire 27. When said circuit is closed, energizing the magnet coils 15, the armature 30 of the circuit changer 16 is d awn down into contact with said coils, causing a contactbar 31 mounted on the armature to contact with contact arms 32 and 33 respectively carried by said post 20 and by a similar post 34, the last mentioned post being connected by a wire 35 to a binding post 36 from which a wire 37 leads to a pair of magnet coils 38 in said tape perforator 23, which coils are- The circuit through the magnet coils 38 being closed, as just described, the pivoted armature 42 thereof is drawn down into contact therewith. This action carries the .tront end of thesniall armature 25 downward, breaking the contact between the latter and the fixed member 24, thus deenergizing the coils 3S and at the same time making contact between said arl'nature 25 and a fixed member 43 carried by a post 44, thus diverting the circuit from said armature 25 through a wire 45 to the small magnetcoil 26, from which a wire 46 leads to the binding post 40. The circuit then con'lprises the battery 28, wires 29, 1 and 1, railc, the axle of the engine, rail i), wires 2, 2, 41 and 46, coil 26, wire 45, post 44, fixed member 43, armature 25 and wire 27.

Fixed on the rear end of and in alinement W11 11 the a rmature 4-2 is a bar 47, to the rear end oli which is pivotally attached the lower j end of a'substantially vertical punch or needle 48 which is adapted to operate vertically through the tape 6 and an outlet hole 4-9 in a cross-member 50 of a tape-gu1dc 51 through which the tape 6 is passed as it 1s unwound from the reel 7, a guide-tube 52 hcing provided for directing said' punch to said hole 49. \Vhcn the circuit through the magnet coils 38. is completed and the pivoted arn'lature 42 is drawn downward, the rear end of the latter is tipped up causing the needle 48 to perforate the tape." The location of the perforation in the tape produced by the passage of the needle therethrough will indicate the correct time of the entrance of the train upon the rails rr and I).

Said tape-guide 51 is mounted upon the top of a supporting-stand 53, as shown.

lVhen a train'tra'veling in the opposite directionithat is, from; leftto right along the track, passes upo/nthe rails a and b, an

electric circuit is completed by the currentcrossing from one of said rails to the other through the axle of the engine, said circuit comprising the battery-28, Wire 27, a wire 54 tappclt in to said wire 27, a 'pin' 55, to which the said wire 54 leads and which is earned upon the rear end ofthe armature 25 and is insulated 'therefronn'as shown at 56, con tact post 57 with which said pin-55 normally stands .in contact,'a wire 58 leading i. from said post 57, a post 59 in said circuit l5 changer 16 to which said wire 58 leads, a contact larm (SO-carried bysaid post 59, the contact bar 31, a contact arm 61 (said contact bar 31 normally standing in contact with said arms 60 and 61), a postgGQ on which said arm 01 is mounted, a wire 03 which leads from said post 02 to a second' tape perforator 64, a small pivoted armature ($5 to which said win-e08 leads, a fixed member 66 with which said ari'nature 65 normally stands in contact, a post 67 upon .whieh. said fixed member is mounted, a wire (38 connected to post 67 and leading to, a

bindingpost 00, a wire 70 leading from said binding post, a pair of magnetfcoils 7-1 in said perforator 64, a wire 72' leading from said coils toa binding post 73, a. W1re,'74

leading from said post 73 and tapped in to wirer l, said wire 4],wires 2 and 2, rail 7), theengine'axle, rail (1., and wires 1, 1 and 29. 4 Upon, the closing of the circuit just described. energizing the magnet coils 71, the pivoted armature 75 thereof is drawn down, into contact therewith.

tips the rear end of the armature 75 um wardlandcauses a pivotally-attached needle 76 carried upon a bar on the rear end thereof to pass through the tape and an outlet ,hole77 in the cross-member 50, said needle 76 being directed or guided by a guide-tube '78. hen the armature 75 is drawn. down,

as above described. it carries therewith the front endof the small armature 65, brealc,

ing the contact between the latter and the fixed member 66, thus d etine-r i'zing thecoils 571 andat the-same time makes contact betweensaid armature 6 5 and a fixed member 79,, carried by a post 80, thus diverting the circuit ,from said armature to ,a small nia'gnetcoil 81 through a wire 82, said coil 81; bein'gconnected by a wire-83 to the bindltwill be. noted that when the tape has been, perforated-by the elevation, of either of ibelneed le s ,48 or 76 theretl1rough,as dej .'i'bed', ,the electrical ciroiiit,;thioiigh the the tape. r

This action thus net coil whieh effects the elevation of, needle is immediately diverted soflasito energize fsfaid ,rnaQn't coil, causing the needle to be immediately withdrawn-from I A third tape perforator 84 may, if desired, be employed in conjunction with those hereinbefore described, said perforator being' controlled by the movement of the operators signal-operating lever and having for its object to record the time of the op erators displaying a white, or clear track, signal at the station where the recording instrument is located. Said perforator is located in a normally open electric circuit which is closed by the movement of the signaLo era-ting lever to a point which" cause; the signal to indicate a clear track. When the operating lever 85 is moved to such position, the electric circuit comprises a battery 80, a wire 87 leading from said battery to a contact post 88, said lever 85,

a wire 89 connected at one end to said lever and at the other to a binding post 90, a wire 91, a pair of magnet coils 92 (said wire 91 connecting said post and said coils) awire 03 leading from said coils to a binding post 94, a wire 95 leading from said post 94, a post 96 to which said wire 95 leads, a fixed member 97 mounted upon said post 96, a small armature 98 the front end of which underlies and is normally in contact withsaid fixed member, and a wire 95) leading from said armature to the battery 86. The

closing of said circuit energizes the magnet coils 92 and draws the pivoted armature 100 1 thereof downward, elevating the pivotallymounted needle carried thereby (not shown) through the tape and an outlet hole 101 in l the'cross member 50 of the tape-guide 51.

When the armature 100 is drawn. down in the manner described, it carries therewith the front end of the small armature 98, breaking the contact between the latter and the fixed member 97, thus detinergizing the ,magnet coils 92, and at the same time makes Contact between said armature. 9S and a fixed member 102-carried by a post 103, and thus diverts the circuit fromsaid armature 9.8 to

a small magnetcoil 104 through a wire 105,

said coil 104, being'connected by a wire 106 tothe binding post 90.-

The circuits established through the mag,- net coils 2G. and 81 of the pcrforat-ors 23 and 64, respectively, are broken only when thetrain which effected the closing thereof passes from the rails which form parts of said'circuits, while the circuit established through the magnet coil' 104 of the perforator 84 is broken only wheat-he operating'lever 85 is moved toactuate the signal to move to danger position.

, It will be seen thatthe perforating'needles V,

of the instruments 23, 64 and 84 respectively operate through guide tubes 52. 7S, and 107, 3125 I "and thatthe perforations produced by gt-h'e needles of the pertoratorsfl and'Rakwilln-p-v pear on opposite "sidesofthe tape, while the perforations produced by the needle ofthe p erforator 64 will appear centrally of said tape. Consequently, the location of any particular perforation in the tape indicates the instrument or perforator which operated to produce the perforation, and, therefore, indicates whether itresulted from the passage of a train by one of the blocks A,.B, C, D,

E, or F, in a right or ]eft direction, or'from the operation of the operators train signal- .rival and departure of such train atthe "intermediate non-recording stations and the time thereof, which time he preferably records on the ordinary train-sheet. Knowing the timeschedule of the different trains and the len th of time usually required for any parti il ar' train to pass from one station to another,. ,.;the operator will have but little difiiculty in following the trains and in'detel-mining which of a number of trains travcling between the recording stations A and B operated to produce any particular perforat-ion of the tape.

V I have shown in the drawings and up to this point have described the system only so far as it applies to therecording ofthe arrival of trams at the variousjstations'.

.the wiring connections 1, 1, 2 and 3 on each side of each: station at a suitable distance ap.artth at is, at both approaches to each station.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A train recording apparatus, comprising' in combination, means for continuously moving a record strip, means for marking said strip for trains proceeding in one direction, means for marking said strips for trains proceeding in an opposite direction, both of said means being in circuit and means for changing the circuit for oppositely proceeding trains, said circuits being adapted to b closed to operate said marking means by the passage of a train.

. 2. A train recording apparatus, compris-' ing in combination, means fonpfogl'essing a record strip, neansior marking said str p for trains prodecding in one direction, means in circuit with said first means for marking trains proceeding in an opposite direction, means for chahging the circuit for oppositcly proceeding trains, and means for regularly progressing said record strip.

train recording apparatus, comprising in combinatiolr means for regularly progressing a rccord 'strip, a plurality of recording means, means in circuit with said recording means for changing the circuit thereof according-to the direction of travel of the actuating train for said recordin means, and contact sections alon the rai road track for the completion o a circuit by a passing train. r

4. A train recording system comprisin in combination with a track-way, a plural ity of line wires, registering apparatuses in circuit with said line wires and spaced at determined points, contact track-sections formed at intermediate and far points also in circuit with said line wires and adapted to completethe circuits by thepassage of a train, and train controlled, means forchariging the circuit for oppositely proceed-- ing trains v 5. A train recording system comprisin in combination with a track-way, a plura 86 .ity of line wires, recordingapparatuses in circuit with said. line'wi'res and spaced at determined points, and contact track-sections. formedat intermediate'and far points also in circuit with said line wires and adapted to automatically complete the circuits by'the passage of a train, and automatic means for changing the circuit for oppositely proceeding trains.-

6. A train, recording system comprisin '9 in combination with a track way, a plum ity of line wires, recording apparatuses'in circuit. with said line wiresv and spaced at. determined points, and contact track -secti nsformed at intermediate and far points a so 0 in circuit with said line wiresand adapted to complete the circuits by the passage of a train, said recordmg apparatuses being adapted to record determinedly and distinguishably trains proceedingjin both directions.

7 A train recording system comprising, in combination, a recording station provided ,with a"recordin-g apparatus, line wires passing therethrough in circuit with said record-' j'ing' apparatus, and other stations located along a track-way and having track sect-ions also in circuit with said line wires and re- :cording apparatus, said track sections being adapted to complete said circuit at the passage of a train to record the same, and means whereby said recording apparatus is automat-ically abtuatcd to distinguishably record the time and direction of a trains passage. .r..8...A trai n recording apparatus cornprisi'ng in combination, iiieaii's for impartmg to a record strip a regular cliron'ometrlcprogression, a markingdevice for recording on said strip the passage of a train, a slmllar device for marking on- ,said'strip the passage of an oppositely proceeding train, and

' a device in circuit with both of said mark-' ing devices for automatically changing the circuitato operate either dev ce by the-passage of trains. a

9. A train recording apparatus comprising in combination, means for imparting to a record strip a regular chronometric progression, means for marking said strip at 5 the passage of a train, Means for distinguish ably marking said strip at the passage of a train in an opposite direction, a circuit changzr in c rcuit with both of said marking In ans wiiereby one or the other of said marking means is actuated to operate, ac cording to the direction of a passing train,

"and means fbrma rking said strip at the giv' ing, of aflo'c'alsignal.

10.71 train retarding apparatus, compris ing in donihinati'om, Ineans=for chronometrically progressing-a record s't'ip, means for iiarking' said stripi at the passage of a train,

jfor'; Inarkirig said strip distinguish ii F" ablyjffronr first mark for the passage ,of, a train in the opposite direction, and means for making athird. mark to record the ishowiiig of alocal signal.

1 1. A i t-rain recordihg apparatus comme tricalliy pi'o gressing a record strip, means for marking said strip at.the passagg-of a train, ineansi tfpr marking ,sa'id strip i-distitfig ulsllfi plyi f i oj 'l' said first mark for-E thepassngeof a train in the opposite direction, sai l mjeanslfor, marking trains being l11"i211'v qufiu and lia iil'jg means for regulating said ji/cuit automatically to operate-either marki-rljn'g meaa 'd means forjmfgik in .a uark to ecord f a local prising in combination, means for chrono:

a third 12. A train recording apparatus com ris-' mg in' combination, a perforator p ate, chronometrlc means for conireymg a recording strip through saidperfora'tor plate, an electromagnetic perforator adjacent said plate and placed in a line circuit, a second,

perforator adjacent said plate and also in v i I said circuit, and an electromagnetic circuit changer in said circuit to cause either' of said perforators to operate with the passage of .Jtrains in either direction. 7

=13. A train recording apparatus, coin rising in combination, a perforator p ate,

' chrononietric means for passing a record strip through said perforator-p e, a plurality of electrc-magnetio perforators placed In testin ony whereof I affix my signature in nresencejdf t yo suhscribing witnesses. jFnaNuLIN A. PIERCE.

Wit-ness s': a

H. nam s, A. Lnuxiinoi 

